Really, it's not going to matter which one you start with, but McClelland's Red Cake 5200 is a great red Virginia bulk that is sweet and tasty. It'll not set you back much money to try, and it's an easy to deal with ribbon cut.
The main differences in most Virginias is how they are prepared, as most come from the same seed stock. Golden Virginias were mostly flu cured or air cured. The golds are sweet with more haylike tastes. Reds have had more heat to caramelize the sugars, making them sweeter with more tobacco flavors, and browns have had even more heat and have a more stout flavor. The black VAs are either stoved or aged and can range in flavors, from sweet to earthy. Then there are casings, pressed flakes, blends, and special processes like the Blackeny process.
Jump in and enjoy.
